JP2012151907A - Video server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video server that has improved processing performance and extensibility by accelerating internal information transmission.SOLUTION: A synchronizing signal input 8 has a timing of 33 milliseconds that is a basic period of image data. Time slots whose number is equal to a maximum number of memory units are generated, and a necessary number of the memory units is set in an initial apparatus setup. On the basis of the set number, a sending control unit 3d enables time slots for a set number of memory substrates from a smallest number thereof, and one time slot is assigned to each memory unit. Each memory unit individually transfers a packet in this time slot. This enables packet transfer without causing congestion to occur in each of a layer-2 switch 4a in a line concentration part 4 and a layer-2 switch 5a in a main control unit 5.

Description

  The present invention relates to a video server installed in a broadcasting station or the like.

  In broadcast stations, video distribution systems, and the like, a video server is installed to store image data after editing or as recorded (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). The video server is a dedicated server device that expands a computer based on the existing architecture to increase the memory capacity and speed up the CPU (Central Processing Unit). Therefore, at present, it remains within the framework of the existing architecture, and its scalability is limited. For example, the internal bus of an existing video server often has a unique specification based on a 128-bit parallel bus, and there is a limit in speeding up signals due to various noises. Also, when using a shared bus, there is a limit to the electrical load on the bus, which further limits the scalability of the system. Furthermore, it is necessary to design a unique protocol for each board such as a memory inserted into the slot, which causes a problem that the design period of protocol development is prolonged.

  In other words, the internal control method in the existing video server often adopts a unique method for each vendor or is a low-speed transmission method such as serial transmission. If the data transmission speed inside the apparatus is low, the processing performance deteriorates and the scalability reaches its peak. Furthermore, in recent years, video servers are often connected to IP (Internet Protocol) networks, and protocol conversion processing is required when a unique method is adopted as the internal control method. Will be increasingly reduced.

JP 2001-186411 A JP 2008-59096 A

As described above, existing video servers are limited in their extensibility, and the period required for protocol development tends to be prolonged. In addition, video materials are being transferred in the form of data files from existing film-based or tape media transfers, and technical development to support such formats is awaited. .
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video server that speeds up data transmission inside the apparatus and improves processing performance and expandability.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an interface unit to which a video data file is input, a plurality of memory units for storing the input video data file, and a plurality of memory units from the plurality of memory units. A concentrating section for concentrating outputs, a plurality of decoder sections for decoding video data read from the memory unit via the concentrating section and outputting video signals, and the concentrating section and the plurality of decoding sections. A standardized general-purpose LAN for data transmission between a switch unit for switching signal paths between the interface unit, the plurality of memory units, the concentrator unit, the switch unit, and the decoder unit Data communication means that mediates packet transmission on the (Local Area Network), and a read scan for each of the plurality of memory units. It generates Tsu bets, video server, wherein a data packet stored in the memory unit includes a timing control means for transferring to said concentrator unit is provided in the reading slot of each memory unit.

  By taking such means, the respective units in the video server are connected to each other via a general-purpose LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and can exchange information. As a result, internal control inside the apparatus can be realized without developing a dedicated communication protocol. In particular, various communication speeds in the LAN are defined in the IEEE 802 series recommendation and the like. By adopting these protocols, the data transmission speed inside the apparatus can be arbitrarily determined as required. Therefore, it is possible to increase the speed of internal processing. Further, the interface between the inside of the apparatus and the information communication network can be simplified by making the general-purpose LAN protocol conform to the protocol of the external information communication network. Accordingly, it is not necessary to perform complicated processing such as protocol conversion, and the communication speed with a network management device or the like provided in the information communication network can be improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a video server capable of speeding up data transmission within the apparatus, and thus improving processing performance and scalability.

The functional block diagram which shows the video server concerning this invention. The functional block diagram which shows an example of the timing controller 5b. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a transmission control unit 3d of the memory unit 3. 4 is a timing chart showing the timing at which a plurality of memory units 3 send packets to the concentrator 4.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a video server according to the present invention. This video server can function as a transmission server and an editing server.
In FIG. 1, a video material data file introduced into the apparatus is terminated at an external interface (I / F) unit 1. The external I / F unit 1 includes a layer 2 switch (L2SW) 1a, and the L2SW 1a is connected to a plurality of memory units 3 and a content processing unit 2. The terminated video material data file is first sent to the content processing unit 2. The content processing unit 2 decides in which memory unit the video material data file is recorded by negotiation with each memory unit 3, and transfers the video material data file to the determined memory unit. In particular, when functioning as a transmission server, the attribute of the video material data file is analyzed, and the decoder unit 6 to be transferred is determined based on the result (data size, etc.). In determining the transfer destination decoder, a database (not shown) provided in the main control unit 5 is referred to.

  The video material data file sent to the memory unit 3 is stored in the memory unit 3a and read out as necessary. The read video material data file is packetized and transferred to the layer 2 switch 4a of the concentrator 4, and the data from the plurality of memory units 3 are concentrated on one port. The collected packets are distributed from this port to low-speed ports in the layer 2 switch 5a of the main control unit 5 and transferred to a plurality of decoder units 6. The decoder unit 6 extracts video data (MPEG2 transport stream) from the transferred packet, decodes it to generate a video output, and outputs it to the outside. When functioning as an editing server, the video material data file read from the memory unit 3 is returned to the external I / F unit 1 and output to the outside.

  The external I / F unit 1, the memory unit 3, the concentrator 4, the main control unit 5, and the decoder unit 6 are connected to the main control unit 5 via the control Ethernet (registered trademark) network via the Ethernet (registered trademark) switch 7. And functions under the control and monitoring functions of the main control unit 5. The main control unit 5 includes a CPU 5c, and the CPU 5c is responsible for overall control of the apparatus. By using the Ethernet (registered trademark) network for the control system, a general-purpose protocol on the Ethernet (registered trademark) can be used. For example, the affinity for remote control from an external device can be improved.

  Each memory unit 3 includes a memory control unit 3b, a protocol processing unit 3c, and a transmission control unit 3d in addition to the memory unit 3a. The main control unit 5 includes a timing controller 5b that controls data transfer timing between the layer 2 switch 5a and each memory unit 3.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the timing controller 5b. A synchronization signal for synchronizing the network is externally supplied to the timing controller 5 b, and this synchronization signal is selected and output by the selector 52 together with the internal clock from the oscillator 51. The clock output from the selector 52 passes through the network synchronization unit 53 and is given to the counter 54. When the number n of substrates in the memory unit is set in the counter 54 under the control of the CPU 5c of the main control unit 5, this counter operates as an n-ary counter. As a result, a slot timing for generating n slots of the number of memory unit substrates is output. The synchronization signal output is synchronized with the slot timing output, and both are distributed to both the memory unit 3 and the decoder unit 6.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the transmission control unit 3d of the memory unit 3. The synchronization signal output and the slot timing output are given to the counter A31. The counter A31 counts the slot timing in synchronization with the synchronization signal, and the counter value of the counter A31 and the memory unit mounting number (substrate number: No.) are compared by the comparator 32. The comparator 32 enables the buffer 33 when the board number and the counter value match. The buffer 33 receives a packetized video material data file, and outputs the packet to the concentrator 4 at an enabled timing. Note that the number n of memory units is set in the main control unit 5 when the system is initially set.

  FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the timing at which the plurality of memory units 3 send packets to the concentrator 4. In this embodiment, since the inside of the apparatus is Ethernet (registered trademark) and video data is packetized and transmitted, the compatibility with an IP (Internet Protocol) network or the like can be improved, but it is necessary to cope with asynchronousness between packets. is there.

  That is, when packets from a plurality of memory units 3 are given to the concentrator 4 asynchronously, congestion occurs when they are output from the same output port, resulting in packet loss. In order to prevent this, in this embodiment, the data output timing from each memory unit 3 is controlled. Specifically, a slot divided into the same number n as the number n of memory units is generated, and control is performed so that packets are sent in order from the lowest number of the memory unit mounting number (No.).

  In FIG. 4, a synchronization signal input 8 given from the outside has a timing of 33 milliseconds (ms) which is a basic period of image data. In this embodiment, the video data is equally extracted from all the memory units 3 at this timing so that the video data can be transferred to the decoder unit 6 at intervals of 33 ms. Therefore, in this embodiment, the same number of time slots as the maximum number of memory units is generated, and the required number is set at the initial setting of the apparatus. Based on this set value, the sending control unit 3d enables slots corresponding to the set number of memory boards from the lowest number, and one time slot is assigned to each memory unit. Each memory unit individually transfers a packet within this time slot. By doing in this way, it becomes possible to transfer a packet without causing congestion in either the layer 2 switch 4a of the concentrator 4 or the layer 2 switch 5a of the main controller 5.

  As described above, in this embodiment, data transmission inside the video server apparatus is realized by packet transmission on Ethernet (registered trademark). At that time, the read timing from the plurality of memory units is controlled to be assigned to the time slot corresponding to the mounting number of the memory slot. As a result, the occurrence of congestion in the concentrator 4 can be prevented, packet loss can be prevented, and the merit of packet transmission can be maximized. As a result, it is possible to provide a video server that speeds up data transmission within the apparatus and improves processing performance and expandability.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

  External interface unit ... 1, layer 2 switch ... 1a, content processing unit ... 2, memory unit ... 3, memory unit ... 3a, memory control unit ... 3b, protocol processing unit ... 3c, transmission control unit ... 3d, concentrating unit ... 4 , Layer 2 switch 4a, main control unit 5; layer 2 switch 5a; timing controller 5b 5c CPU (Central Processing Unit) decoder unit 6; Ethernet (registered trademark) switch 7 51; 52 ... Selector, 53 ... Network synchronization unit, 54 ... Counter, 31 ... Counter A, 32 ... Comparator, 33 ... Buffer

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an interface unit to which a video data file is input, a plurality of memory units for storing the input video data file, and a plurality of memory units from the plurality of memory units. A concentrator for concentrating outputs, a plurality of decoders for decoding video data read from the memory unit via the concentrator and outputting a video signal, and the concentrator and the decoders A standardized general-purpose LAN for data transmission between a switch unit for switching signal paths between the interface unit, the plurality of memory units, the concentrator unit, the switch unit, and the decoder unit A data communication means that mediates packet transmission on (Local Area Network);
Based on the input synchronization signal and the number of the plurality of memory units, a read slot is generated for each of the plurality of memory units, and the video data file stored in the memory unit is read in the read slot of each memory unit. There is provided a video server comprising timing control means for transferring to a concentrator.

Claims (4)

An interface part to which a video data file is input;
A plurality of memory units for storing the input video data files;
A concentrator for concentrating outputs from the plurality of memory units;
A plurality of decoder units for decoding video data read from the memory unit via the concentrator and outputting video signals;
A switch unit that switches a signal path between the concentrating unit and the plurality of decoding units;
Data transmission among the interface unit, the plurality of memory units, the concentrator unit, the switch unit, and the decoder unit is mediated by packet transmission on a standardized general-purpose LAN (Local Area Network). Data communication means for
And a timing control means for generating a read slot for each of the plurality of memory units and transferring a data packet stored in the memory unit to the concentrator in the read slot for each memory unit. server.   The video server according to claim 1, wherein the timing control unit generates a read slot corresponding to a mounting number of the memory unit.   The video server according to claim 1, further comprising a content processing unit that determines a memory unit for storing the video data file in accordance with a content attribute of the video data file.   The video server according to claim 1, wherein the general-purpose LAN is Ethernet (registered trademark).

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